My Dear Brother
		   I received your
Letter Last night and was very
glad to hear from you and
that you are well. we are all 
well at present. dont you 
get homesick I should think
you would. it is Lonesome
here without you. I. did not
think I should miss you
so much I forget and say
Guy almost every day and
I have dreamed of your
Coming home ever so many 
times. you did not want
us to write any thing
		             over

discouraging I shall try and
not do that but I do not
know as I can write any
thing very Encourageing for
you know about what I thought
about your going and I have
not changed my mind
one bit, for my part I can
see no bright side to the
picture it all Looks dark
to dark for me to talk
encourageingly about and
I would get you back now
if I could but as I cann not
I have to make the best of
it. you are a good boy and
will not get in to any

[Written upside down on top of Scan 2 – continuation from top of Scan 3]

very natural

mean scrape that is one
comfort, and you must 
try and keep out of danger
well I will tell you some
things that I have done since
you went away I have been
black Berrying twice I went
yesterday (and got a pan
full I wish I could send
them to you they ar nice Large
ones) Mary Warren [2 words illegible in original]
went with me Little 
Darling Willie is hear and
he he says, Love Di, and
Di tum home he is a Little
[illegible in original] about you want to
see him. [illegible in original] School

[Written upside down on top of Scan 3]

Give my Love to Israel and
tell him I would like to have
him write to me his likeness is

is out. I went the Last day.
She sends her Love to you;
Grace and Lew are comeing
down here to day I wish
you was at home when
you come we will have
a berry short cake and
every thing as good as the
house affords I do want
to see you very much
when you come home dont
forget to bring me Something
to remember you by will 
you, and come and stay
as long as you possibly can
Your Beloved Uncle A W Gates
is Just as mean and Just
as much of Coward as ever
he has whiped Lewis two
or three times since you
Left and he is going to go
and Live with Mr Austin.
if you dont come home I bid
you good bye but you must
come I dont know what I
should do if you did not I
want to see you once more

[Written on the right side of Scan 4]

you must write to me soon tell me all news
that can be of Interest to me

[Written upside down on top of Scan 4]

this from Your Loving sister Ellen